Thursday, September 27, 2012

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

With fall in the air, the decorations are popping up all over our house and the only thing missing was the smell of fall.

The quickest way to remedy that was to pull out some pumpkin and experiment a little bit. The result – a recipe for Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

 
Ingredients:
 
~ 3 cups of flour {I used whole wheat pastry flour and it worked great}
~ 1 tsp. salt
~ 2 Tbsp. pumpkin pie spice
~ 1 tsp. baking soda
~ 1 cup butter or butter-flavored shortening
~ 5 Tbsp. pumpkin puree
~ 2 eggs
~ 3/4 cup sugar
~ 3/4 cup brown sugar
~ 1 tsp. vanilla extract
~ 1 bag of mini chocolate chips
 
Directions:
  1. Cream butter/shortening with sugar. Add eggs and vanilla when mixed well.
  2. Add in pumpkin puree.
  3. Mix dry ingredients together and slowly mix in with wet ingredients.
  4. Stir in chocolate chips.
  5. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto a cookie sheet. {I use a small cookie dough scoop and it works great!}
  6. Bake at 375 for 8-10 minutes or till browned and cooked to your liking.
  7. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes and then enjoy!
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Tuesday, September 25, 2012

A Lady in the Making by Susan Page Davis {Review}

Available October 2012

One of the last things that Millie Evans stole was a Bible. Ironically, that Bible has been by her side since and she wants nothing more than to right the wrongs that she has committed.

On a stagecoach to start a new life for herself, she runs into David, the man she once tried to swindle ~ and stole the Bible from. He is returning to his home in England to claim his family title and wary of the ‘new’ Millie. When an accident leaves him needing medical attention, Millie volunteers to help.

David’s heart is guarded when it comes to Millie, but she is determined to prove that she has changed with God’s help. Will the changes be evident to David and will his heart be softened toward Millie ~ or will he return to England without seeing a difference in her?

My Thoughts

A Lady in the Making is the third book in the Prairie Dreams series by Susan Page Davis. My initial reading of the first book in the series, The Lady’s Maid, left me a bit frustrated, but I am so glad that I decided to read the next book ady Anne's Quest, I couldn’t wait to read the last book in the series.

Millie’s character was introduced in Lady Anne's Quest and she is one whose story you want to learn more of. Page does an excellent job developing the character from one the reader is not fond of to one that you are rooting in just the first few pages of the latest story. Her redemption is one that you witness as the story unfolds and is believable and heartwarming.

Watching the The Prairie Dreams series is wrapped up very nicely with A Lady in the Making {even though there is one other character in the story line that I would love to see a book about!}. While this book can be read as a stand-alone, I would definitely recommend reading the other two books in the series first so that the broader storyline can be understood.

Find Out More

~ Visit Susan Page Davis' website

~ Buy A Lady in the Making ~ Prairie Dreams Book 3 by Susan Page Davis in paperback or Kindle format.

Be sure to check out the entire series by Susan Davis….

image Lady Anne's Quest

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This book was provided for review by Barbour and NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are solely my own.

Thursday, September 20, 2012

Favorite Bible Stories

What were your favorite Bible stories when you were young? David and Goliath? Queen Esther? Jonah and the Whale?

Jonah

The other night before bed, McKenna was reading her Bible. She had recently picked up one of our one year Bibles to use and was reading in the book of Genesis.

As she closed her Bible, she sighed and said, “I just love that story.”

Not sure how far she was into the story, I asked her what one she was talking about.

“Cain and Abel. I don’t know why I like it so much. I just do.”

What?!?!? I’m really not sure how to interpret that one – should I start putting aside money for therapy now? Anyone??

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Monday, September 17, 2012

A Camping We Will Go…

This summer we’ve done a little more camping than last year, which is a great thing. We’re finding more of a ‘groove’ when we go {i.e. we don’t throw every random thing into the vehicles to bring}. Unpacking and setting up is much easier too, which gives us more time to enjoy the time together – and time to relax.

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The last few trips may have been even more relaxing because wireless wasn’t available either. Ahem.

Last summer we met a really great couple that we immediately grew to love {and their kids}. So far this summer we’ve managed to spend a few weekends with them and it has been MUCH fun.

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Our favorite trip this year {because it was longer and fun} was to Westmoreland State Park – great campsites, clean and well kept-up. The park is just off the Potomac River and not far from George Washington’s birthplace {something we’ll have to check out next time we visit!}.

The best part of the weekend for the kids {other than being with each other} was digging for shark’s teeth on Fossil Beach.

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Everyone spent time digging and sifting or walking the beach looking for teeth. There were even a few teeth that ‘got away’ after kiddos dropped the newly discovered teeth right back in the water. We won’t tell WHO dropped the teeth…

One more trip planned for us this year. Have you been camping lately??

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Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Full Disclosure by Dee Henderson {Book Review}

imageSpecial Agent Paul Falcon has been chasing a hired killer for year, with few leads. When Ann Silver appears in his office, years after the killer’s trail has gone cold, she brings clue that could potentially bring the case to a close.

Neither Paul nor Ann expected the case them closer together – and also past secrets to light. Will their newly developing relationship be able to withstand the things that Ann has held tightly inside for years?

My Thoughts

Dee Henderson has long been one of my favorite authors. In her newest novel, Full Disclosure, readers will not be disappointed with the story or her writing. True to her writing style, Henderson develops a depth of characters, provides multiple intense story lines, and takes the time to tackle tough questions and work though the answers.

Faithful readers will also have brief glimpses into the lives of characters from past series by Henderson {O’Malley and True Heroes} and new readers will be left searching Amazon to complete their library with books they have yet to read.

Full Disclosure was a stand alone novel, but it was wonderful to see past characters appear in the story line and see their relationship to the new characters in this story. I loved ‘meeting’ characters that I hadn’t read the stories of before and immediately after finishing, bought the entire True Heroes series to get a little more.

Overall, Full Disclosure is a FABULOUS book that I would recommend to those who enjoy suspense novels and a deep plot line with various twists and turns. You definitely won’t be disappointed!

Find Out More

~ Check out the Facebook page for Full Disclosure. Dee Henderson has been answering reader questions, is sharing excerpts from the book, and has some fun pictures and trivia to share with readers.

~ Visit Dee Henderson's website

~ Buy Full Disclosure by Dee Henderson in paperback or Kindle format.

 

This post may contain affiliate links. Click here to read my disclosure policy.

This book was provided for review by Bethany House. All opinions expressed in this review are solely my own.